| 1979 VFL premiership season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 12 |
| Premiers | Carlton 12th premiership |
| Minor premiers | Carlton 14th minor premiership |
| Night series | Collingwood 1st Night series win |
| Brownlow Medallist | Peter Moore(Collingwood) |
| Coleman Medallist | Kelvin Templeton(Footscray) |
| Attendance | |
| Matches played | 138 |
| Total attendance | 3,574,281 (25,901 per match) |
| Highest | 113,545 |
The1979 VFL season was the 83rd season of theVictorian Football League (VFL), the highest level seniorAustralian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 31 March until 29 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs.
The premiership was won by theCarlton Football Club for the twelfth time, after it defeatedCollingwood by five points in the1979 VFL Grand Final.
The season saw the beginning of the league's expansion into the interstate and Sunday television markets, with two Sunday matches played in Sydney, New South Wales.
Collingwood defeatedHawthorn 12.8 (80) to 7.10 (52) in the final.
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 9.15 (69) | Fitzroy | 21.23 (149) | Victoria Park | 29,345 | 7 April 1979 |
| Carlton | 23.13 (151) | Geelong | 15.11 (101) | Princes Park | 24,771 | 7 April 1979 |
| South Melbourne | 15.21 (111) | Richmond | 19.11 (125) | SMCG | 18,603 | 7 April 1979 |
| St Kilda | 19.14 (128) | Hawthorn | 14.19 (103) | Moorabbin Oval | 22,060 | 7 April 1979 |
| Melbourne | 18.17 (125) | Footscray | 16.17 (113) | MCG | 24,133 | 7 April 1979 |
| North Melbourne | 17.27 (129) | Essendon | 16.13 (109) | NMCG | 22,633 | 7 April 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 13.16 (94) | North Melbourne | 20.13 (133) | Western Oval | 23,457 | 14 April 1979 |
| Fitzroy | 12.14 (86) | South Melbourne | 21.13 (139) | Junction Oval | 19,437 | 14 April 1979 |
| Hawthorn | 13.24 (102) | Collingwood | 19.18 (132) | Princes Park | 29,355 | 14 April 1979 |
| Geelong | 15.16 (106) | Melbourne | 9.13 (67) | Kardinia Park | 23,858 | 16 April 1979 |
| Essendon | 21.22 (148) | St Kilda | 9.10 (64) | Windy Hill | 26,499 | 16 April 1979 |
| Richmond | 13.18 (96) | Carlton | 23.9 (147) | MCG | 59,942 | 16 April 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 11.14 (80) | Carlton | 14.17 (101) | VFL Park | 41,717 | 31 March 1979 |
| South Melbourne | 18.10 (118) | Melbourne | 16.15 (111) | SMCG | 14,431 | 21 April 1979 |
| Hawthorn | 18.15 (123) | Geelong | 11.17 (83) | Princes Park | 14,703 | 21 April 1979 |
| St Kilda | 15.14 (104) | Footscray | 16.13 (109) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,275 | 21 April 1979 |
| Richmond | 20.12 (132) | Fitzroy | 16.16 (112) | MCG | 24,635 | 21 April 1979 |
| North Melbourne | 18.19 (127) | Collingwood | 14.15 (99) | NMCG | 29,747 | 21 April 1979 |
Despite being formally a part of Round 3, the Essendon vs Carlton match was played as a stand-alone match on the Saturday before Round 1, and was therefore the opening match of the season.
| Round 4 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 25 April (2:10 pm) | Hawthorn 29.15 (189) | def. | South Melbourne 15.5 (95) | VFL Park (crowd: 37,276) | Report |
| Wednesday, 25 April (2:10 pm) | Melbourne 16.23 (119) | def. | Richmond 15.19 (109) | MCG (crowd: 44,708) | Report |
| Saturday, 28 April (2:10 pm) | Fitzroy 11.16 (82) | def. by | Carlton 20.19 (139) | Junction Oval (crowd: 21,577) | Report |
| Saturday, 28 April (2:10 pm) | Collingwood 31.21 (207) | def. | St Kilda 3.11 (29) | Victoria Park (crowd: 29,380) | Report |
| Saturday, 28 April (2:10 pm) | Footscray 20.8 (128) | drew with | Essendon 19.14 (128) | Western Oval (crowd: 26,981) | Report |
| Saturday, 28 April (2:10 pm) | Geelong 10.13 (73) | def. by | North Melbourne 19.9 (123) | Kardinia Park (crowd: 21,353) | Report |
| |||||
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 19.24 (138) | South Melbourne | 12.16 (88) | NMCG | 16,015 | 5 May 1979 |
| Essendon | 10.16 (76) | Fitzroy | 25.22 (172) | Windy Hill | 19,741 | 5 May 1979 |
| Carlton | 15.20 (110) | Melbourne | 13.18 (96) | Princes Park | 24,248 | 5 May 1979 |
| Richmond | 11.16 (82) | Hawthorn | 24.17 (161) | MCG | 31,448 | 5 May 1979 |
| St Kilda | 17.10 (112) | Geelong | 22.10 (142) | Moorabbin Oval | 15,481 | 5 May 1979 |
| Footscray | 12.17 (89) | Collingwood | 20.17 (137) | VFL Park | 34,163 | 5 May 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 14.15 (99) | Essendon | 19.19 (133) | Victoria Park | 27,824 | 12 May 1979 |
| South Melbourne | 26.19 (175) | St Kilda | 11.20 (86) | SMCG | 12,394 | 12 May 1979 |
| Geelong | 9.18 (72) | Footscray | 7.5 (47) | Kardinia Park | 27,824 | 12 May 1979 |
| Melbourne | 21.14 (140) | Fitzroy | 24.19 (163) | MCG | 21,783 | 12 May 1979 |
| Hawthorn | 16.12 (108) | Carlton | 25.18 (168) | Princes Park | 29,935 | 12 May 1979 |
| North Melbourne | 14.15 (99) | Richmond | 13.16 (94) | VFL Park | 22,626 | 12 May 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 22.17 (149) | South Melbourne | 14.17 (101) | Western Oval | 15,045 | 19 May 1979 |
| Fitzroy | 14.18 (102) | Hawthorn | 11.24 (90) | Junction Oval | 15,870 | 19 May 1979 |
| Essendon | 23.18 (156) | Melbourne | 9.20 (74) | Windy Hill | 21,592 | 19 May 1979 |
| Carlton | 15.14 (104) | North Melbourne | 16.12 (108) | Princes Park | 39,411 | 19 May 1979 |
| St Kilda | 16.15 (111) | Richmond | 14.15 (99) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,087 | 19 May 1979 |
| Collingwood | 13.14 (92) | Geelong | 6.15 (51) | VFL Park | 37,260 | 19 May 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 17.18 (120) | Melbourne | 10.17 (77) | Princes Park | 10,997 | 26 May 1979 |
| Richmond | 22.26 (158) | Footscray | 12.13 (85) | MCG | 21,672 | 26 May 1979 |
| North Melbourne | 13.16 (94) | Fitzroy | 21.22 (148) | NMCG | 17,469 | 26 May 1979 |
| Geelong | 12.11 (83) | Essendon | 12.12 (84) | Kardinia Park | 25,402 | 26 May 1979 |
| South Melbourne | 6.8 (44) | Collingwood | 20.11 (131) | SMCG | 21,282 | 26 May 1979 |
| St Kilda | 9.10 (64) | Carlton | 15.13 (103) | VFL Park | 28,817 | 26 May 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 17.9 (111) | North Melbourne | 23.18 (156) | MCG | 23,261 | 2 June 1979 |
| Fitzroy | 18.15 (123) | St Kilda | 11.12 (78) | Junction Oval | 14,963 | 2 June 1979 |
| Collingwood | 19.18 (132) | Richmond | 10.20 (80) | Victoria Park | 31,474 | 2 June 1979 |
| Hawthorn | 16.12 (108) | Essendon | 17.14 (116) | Princes Park | 24,875 | 2 June 1979 |
| Footscray | 11.12 (78) | Carlton | 18.19 (127) | Western Oval | 21,362 | 2 June 1979 |
| Geelong | 18.15 (123) | South Melbourne | 17.8 (110) | VFL Park | 15,750 | 2 June 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 16.19 (115) | South Melbourne | 14.15 (99) | Windy Hill | 18,916 | 9 June 1979 |
| Carlton | 18.15 (123) | Collingwood | 16.11 (107) | Princes Park | 46,106 | 9 June 1979 |
| St Kilda | 9.11 (65) | Melbourne | 12.13 (85) | Moorabbin Oval | 17,390 | 9 June 1979 |
| Richmond | 14.17 (101) | Geelong | 18.19 (127) | MCG | 24,824 | 9 June 1979 |
| Footscray | 11.8 (74) | Fitzroy | 17.17 (119) | VFL Park | 14,357 | 9 June 1979 |
| North Melbourne | 16.9 (105) | Hawthorn | 23.18 (156) | SCG | 31,391 | 10 June 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 19.18 (132) | Geelong | 9.11 (65) | Junction Oval | 17,520 | 16 June 1979 |
| Hawthorn | 15.10 (100) | Footscray | 15.11 (101) | Princes Park | 12,513 | 16 June 1979 |
| Melbourne | 11.16 (82) | Collingwood | 13.18 (96) | MCG | 53,562 | 16 June 1979 |
| St Kilda | 15.17 (107) | North Melbourne | 16.14 (110) | Moorabbin Oval | 19,705 | 18 June 1979 |
| South Melbourne | 18.18 (126) | Carlton | 20.12 (132) | SMCG | 26,740 | 18 June 1979 |
| Richmond | 16.12 (108) | Essendon | 20.12 (132) | VFL Park | 53,116 | 18 June 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Richmond | 25.16 (166) | South Melbourne | 16.14 (110) | MCG | 21,216 | 23 June 1979 |
| Hawthorn | 19.18 (132) | St Kilda | 13.15 (93) | Princes Park | 13,176 | 23 June 1979 |
| Footscray | 18.12 (120) | Melbourne | 11.15 (81) | Western Oval | 14,308 | 23 June 1979 |
| Essendon | 15.11 (101) | North Melbourne | 6.18 (54) | Windy Hill | 30,795 | 23 June 1979 |
| Geelong | 15.17 (107) | Carlton | 14.17 (101) | Kardinia Park | 29,941 | 23 June 1979 |
| Fitzroy | 17.20 (122) | Collingwood | 11.14 (80) | VFL Park | 56,975 | 23 June 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 25.19 (169) | Hawthorn | 8.16 (64) | Victoria Park | 22,903 | 30 June 1979 |
| Carlton | 21.12 (138) | Richmond | 12.10 (82) | Princes Park | 21,792 | 30 June 1979 |
| North Melbourne | 8.21 (69) | Footscray | 12.9 (81) | NMCG | 13,925 | 30 June 1979 |
| South Melbourne | 15.20 (110) | Fitzroy | 20.16 (136) | SMCG | 13,850 | 30 June 1979 |
| St Kilda | 9.12 (66) | Essendon | 15.15 (105) | Moorabbin Oval | 18,802 | 30 June 1979 |
| Melbourne | 9.3 (57) | Geelong | 16.12 (108) | VFL Park | 13,272 | 30 June 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 10.11 (71) | Footscray | 6.14 (50) | Windy Hill | 25,240 | 7 July 1979 |
| Richmond | 17.18 (120) | Melbourne | 10.16 (76) | MCG | 19,879 | 7 July 1979 |
| South Melbourne | 13.11 (89) | Hawthorn | 10.14 (74) | SMCG | 10,626 | 7 July 1979 |
| North Melbourne | 17.16 (118) | Geelong | 14.16 (100) | NMCG | 14,971 | 7 July 1979 |
| St Kilda | 6.16 (52) | Collingwood | 15.11 (101) | Moorabbin Oval | 21,588 | 7 July 1979 |
| Carlton | 17.14 (116) | Fitzroy | 9.11 (65) | VFL Park | 58,736 | 7 July 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 24.23 (167) | South Melbourne | 24.10 (154) | MCG | 15,039 | 14 July 1979 |
| Footscray | 24.16 (160) | St Kilda | 11.15 (81) | Western Oval | 13,386 | 14 July 1979 |
| Collingwood | 10.16 (76) | North Melbourne | 20.13 (133) | Victoria Park | 30,415 | 14 July 1979 |
| Carlton | 18.18 (126) | Essendon | 12.11 (83) | Princes Park | 44,661 | 14 July 1979 |
| Geelong | 11.12 (78) | Hawthorn | 11.13 (79) | VFL Park | 20,777 | 14 July 1979 |
| Fitzroy | 20.15 (135) | Richmond | 22.20 (152) | SCG | 17,140 | 15 July 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 14.20 (104) | Richmond | 18.11 (119) | Princes Park | 13,557 | 21 July 1979 |
| Geelong | 20.9 (129) | St Kilda | 14.20 (104) | Kardinia Park | 14,613 | 21 July 1979 |
| Collingwood | 23.17 (155) | Footscray | 3.15 (33) | Victoria Park | 21,041 | 21 July 1979 |
| Fitzroy | 16.16 (112) | Essendon | 15.9 (99) | Junction Oval | 19,684 | 21 July 1979 |
| Melbourne | 9.7 (61) | Carlton | 19.26 (140) | MCG | 26,388 | 21 July 1979 |
| South Melbourne | 8.18 (66) | North Melbourne | 12.16 (88) | VFL Park | 14,725 | 21 July 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| St Kilda | 19.14 (128) | South Melbourne | 16.12 (108) | Moorabbin Oval | 12,969 | 28 July 1979 |
| Footscray | 12.10 (82) | Geelong | 18.14 (122) | Western Oval | 14,284 | 28 July 1979 |
| Carlton | 15.21 (111) | Hawthorn | 12.11 (83) | Princes Park | 22,159 | 28 July 1979 |
| Richmond | 16.15 (111) | North Melbourne | 19.10 (124) | MCG | 38,111 | 28 July 1979 |
| Essendon | 9.17 (71) | Collingwood | 14.8 (92) | Windy Hill | 31,968 | 28 July 1979 |
| Fitzroy | 36.22 (238) | Melbourne | 6.12 (48) | VFL Park | 12,149 | 28 July 1979 |
Fitzroy's 190 point winning margin is the biggest in AFL/VFL history
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| South Melbourne | 31.9 (195) | Footscray | 15.16 (106) | SMCG | 9,815 | 4 August 1979 |
| Hawthorn | 15.14 (104) | Fitzroy | 15.25 (115) | Princes Park | 15,104 | 4 August 1979 |
| Melbourne | 21.8 (134) | Essendon | 16.9 (105) | MCG | 25,367 | 4 August 1979 |
| Geelong | 18.16 (124) | Collingwood | 9.9 (63) | Kardinia Park | 30,495 | 4 August 1979 |
| North Melbourne | 18.11 (119) | Carlton | 21.15 (141) | NMCG | 28,902 | 4 August 1979 |
| Richmond | 28.22 (190) | St Kilda | 18.11 (119) | VFL Park | 24,651 | 4 August 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 13.19 (97) | Richmond | 6.5 (41) | Western Oval | 12,537 | 11 August 1979 |
| Fitzroy | 7.12 (54) | North Melbourne | 17.19 (121) | Junction Oval | 16,659 | 11 August 1979 |
| Essendon | 14.12 (96) | Geelong | 8.8 (56) | Windy Hill | 23,336 | 11 August 1979 |
| Collingwood | 14.11 (95) | South Melbourne | 13.9 (87) | Victoria Park | 18,041 | 11 August 1979 |
| Carlton | 22.17 (149) | St Kilda | 6.9 (45) | Princes Park | 17,127 | 11 August 1979 |
| Melbourne | 8.25 (73) | Hawthorn | 14.11 (95) | VFL Park | 12,897 | 11 August 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 9.16 (70) | Hawthorn | 10.14 (74) | Windy Hill | 19,034 | 18 August 1979 |
| North Melbourne | 15.27 (117) | Melbourne | 6.9 (45) | NMCG | 10,680 | 18 August 1979 |
| South Melbourne | 16.6 (102) | Geelong | 10.12 (72) | SMCG | 11,298 | 18 August 1979 |
| St Kilda | 9.6 (60) | Fitzroy | 10.16 (76) | Moorabbin Oval | 12,330 | 18 August 1979 |
| Richmond | 10.15 (75) | Collingwood | 13.17 (95) | MCG | 61,624 | 18 August 1979 |
| Carlton | 12.18 (90) | Footscray | 8.6 (54) | VFL Park | 25,075 | 18 August 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 24.17 (161) | St Kilda | 12.24 (96) | MCG | 18,435 | 25 August 1979 |
| Hawthorn | 7.18 (60) | North Melbourne | 24.21 (165) | Princes Park | 18,501 | 25 August 1979 |
| Geelong | 17.13 (115) | Richmond | 12.17 (89) | Kardinia Park | 18,039 | 25 August 1979 |
| Fitzroy | 22.19 (151) | Footscray | 14.16 (100) | Junction Oval | 12,076 | 25 August 1979 |
| Collingwood | 18.12 (120) | Carlton | 14.17 (101) | Victoria Park | 36,509 | 25 August 1979 |
| South Melbourne | 10.16 (76) | Essendon | 13.17 (95) | VFL Park | 32,127 | 25 August 1979 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 9.11 (65) | Hawthorn | 14.19 (103) | Western Oval | 12,839 | 1 September 1979 |
| Essendon | 8.15 (63) | Richmond | 18.14 (122) | Windy Hill | 22,589 | 1 September 1979 |
| Collingwood | 23.16 (154) | Melbourne | 15.13 (103) | Victoria Park | 27,206 | 1 September 1979 |
| Carlton | 23.16 (154) | South Melbourne | 17.19 (121) | Princes Park | 24,479 | 1 September 1979 |
| Geelong | 16.16 (112) | Fitzroy | 15.17 (107) | Kardinia Park | 21,801 | 1 September 1979 |
| North Melbourne | 21.18 (144) | St Kilda | 9.11 (65) | VFL Park | 20,571 | 1 September 1979 |
| (P) | Premiers |
| Qualified for finals |
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlton(P) | 22 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 2772 | 1986 | 139.6 | 76 |
| 2 | North Melbourne | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2574 | 2083 | 123.6 | 68 |
| 3 | Collingwood | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2501 | 1974 | 126.7 | 60 |
| 4 | Fitzroy | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2699 | 2198 | 122.8 | 60 |
| 5 | Essendon | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2236 | 2127 | 105.1 | 50 |
| 6 | Geelong | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2149 | 2140 | 100.4 | 48 |
| 7 | Hawthorn | 22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2332 | 2336 | 99.8 | 40 |
| 8 | Richmond | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2451 | 2512 | 97.6 | 36 |
| 9 | Footscray | 22 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 2015 | 2463 | 81.8 | 30 |
| 10 | South Melbourne | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 2424 | 2666 | 90.9 | 24 |
| 11 | Melbourne | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 2093 | 2759 | 75.9 | 24 |
| 12 | St Kilda | 22 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1857 | 2859 | 65.0 | 12 |
Rules for classification: 1. premiership points; 2. percentage; 3. points for
Average score: 106.5
Source:AFL Tables
| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 17.22 (124) | Essendon | 5.13 (43) | VFL Park | 49,470 | 8 September |
| Collingwood | 9.28 (82) | North Melbourne | 18.13 (121) | MCG | 84,660 | 8 September |
| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Collingwood | 16.20 (116) | Fitzroy | 12.22 (94) | MCG | 87,139 | 15 September |
| Carlton | 15.21 (111) | North Melbourne | 11.7 (73) | VFL Park | 69,142 | 15 September |
| Home team | Score | Away team | Score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 13.17 (95) | Collingwood | 18.14 (122) | VFL Park | 73,380 | 22 September |
| Game | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Grand final | Carlton | 11.16 (82) | Collingwood | 11.11 (77) | MCG | 113,545 | 29 September 1979 |